opt in to decide to make use of or take part in something.
To receive automatic updates, opt in under the email notification section.
opt out to decide to withdraw from or not take part in something.
You can opt out of the pension plan, but you lose the employer and government contribution.
optative.
optical.
optician.
optics.
optional.
First recorded in 1875–80; from French opter “to choose, divide,” from Latin optāre “to wish for, desire, pray for, choose, select”
To opt is to choose. Given the alternative, most kids will opt for a cupcake over a ham sandwich. When you're signing up for next semester's classes, you might opt for another history class, or instead opt for advanced biology. Whenever you have more than one alternative, you have the chance to opt for something. You can also opt out of something, or choose not to do it at all. Opt comes from the French verb opter, "to choose," from the Latin root optare, "desire," and it's related to option.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He thinks students might opt instead for less expensive public schools close to home.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
Couples would be able to mutually opt out of the proposed new rights, as long as they meet certain safeguards, which could include getting independent legal advice and disclosing their financial situation to their partner.
From BBC • Jul. 4, 2026
You can opt out of model training in settings under “data controls,” which allows you to turn off improving the model with your inputs and face less risk of data leakage.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
However, management could opt not to invest in a bid to keep the market tight as autocatalyst demand drops, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
In the end, we had no option but to choose between the lesser of two evils, and opt for a diminished education.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
